Fairfield Countys Community Foundation INC

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Fairfield county's Community Foundation serves the 23 towns and cities in Fairfield county, CT. We work closely with Community organizations, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropists to address challenges and identify opportunities to create a Fairfield county where everyone has an equitable opportunity to thrive. Established in 1992, the Community Foundation has awarded over $390 million in grants to nonprofits in Fairfield county and beyond. The Community Foundation:- provides personalized philanthropic advisory services, grant services, and financial stewardship to its fund holders.- awards grants and provides technical support, leadership development, and training to build the capacity of local nonprofits.- builds Community power and public will to change policy and practice for more equitable and just social systems.- brings people together to identify and pursue solutions to Fairfield county's most pressing challenges.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
90¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 82 volunteers and 35 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
2 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average deficit $1.1M a year · 4% of revenue · last 5 filings
Concern: a surplus in 2 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
90%
of spending
Looks good: 90% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$1.4M
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
4 mo
of spending, in cash
Plus $278.7M in investments, Pt X · Ln 11–13
Looks good: 3.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
3
named funders · $130K
Looks good: 3 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.9M
0.7% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 1% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
19
of 19 voting members
Looks good: 19 of 19 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$21.3M
+5% vs prior year
Spent
$33.0M
To programs
90%
Net assets
$289.4M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$21.3M
FY2025▲ +5%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$42.5M
FY2022$46.8M
FY2023$21.9M
FY2024$20.3M
FY2025$21.3M
Expenses
$33.0M
FY2025▲ +6%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$34.7M
FY2022$29.1M
FY2023$30.4M
FY2024$31.2M
FY2025$33.0M
Net assets
$289.4M
FY2025▲ +4%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$262.3M
FY2022$256.6M
FY2023$265.4M
FY2024$279.4M
FY2025$289.4M

From the FY2025 Form 990 (year ending June 2025) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Apr 1991.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

90 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 90% · $29.5M Management & general 7% · $2.4M Fundraising 3% · $1.1M

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

27 people listed on the 990; $1.4M paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2024); the FY2025 filing did not itemize Part VII
President and CEO
$327,505Pt VII · Sec A
Chief Financial Officer
$200,483Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Strategy & External Relations
$196,441Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Philanthropy
$177,702Pt VII · Sec A
VP, People & Culture
$175,429Pt VII · Sec A
VP, Grants & Programs
$174,823Pt VII · Sec A
Director of Community Philanthropy
$116,773Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Mendi Blue’s $328K as President and CEO is at the 74th percentile of top reported officer pay among 661 $10–100M philanthropy & grantmaking nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 8 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Mendi Blue$327,505$291,897$235,479$178,402$223,237
Juanita James——$262,551$284,152$283,203
Michael Rosen————$202,353
William Andrews$200,483$201,073$198,296$176,440$151,956
Elaine Mintz$196,441$186,414$185,807$172,233$149,031
Karen Brown———$193,101$183,599
Joseph Collin$177,702$166,061$150,140$111,142—
Tara Berlingo$175,429$161,735$154,139$120,190$103,108

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Fairfield Countys Community Foundation INC executive salaries →

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Partners with donors and nonprofits to award grants, build organizational capacity, and advocate for equitable social systems across Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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3 programs · $29.5M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Grants

The community foundation awarded and made grants to 501(c)(3) organizations to support education and youth development, community and economic development, the empowerment of women and girls, health, immigration support and nonprofit capacity building.

$26.9Mprogram expense
02

Community Leadership

Fairfield county's community foundation promotes and supports collaborations, partnerships and initiatives to make an impact for women and girls, older youth (who are not in school or employed), equitable health, especially maternal health, affordable housing as well as income and asset building.

$2.4Mprogram expense
03

Philanthropic Advisory Services

The community foundation educates donors, agencies and the community to increase local philanthropy to provide a strong base of support for fairfield county nonprofit organizations now and in the future.

$258Kprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2025
CfleadsFY2025$50K
Total grants receivedfrom 3 funders$130K
See all 3 funders →
Grants paid · 2,281 grants · $125.8M · 2020–2024
Mothers Against Drunk DrivingTX · FY2024$2,000,000
Unitemized GrantFY2024$1,000,768
Heart and Armor FoundationCA · FY2024$1,000,000
Optimus Health Care INCCT · FY2024$663,500
American ForestsDC · FY2024$620,000
National Urban League INCNY · FY2024$470,000
Scholarship America INCMN · FY2024$411,081
The Open Door Shelter INCCT · FY2024$309,125
The Housing Collective INCCT · FY2024$250,169
Joe Burrow FoundationOH · FY2024$250,000
NAACP Empowerment Programs INCMD · FY2024$250,000
Cheyney FoundationPA · FY2024$250,000
See all 2,281 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$21.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$5.5M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$46K
Money outPt IX
$33.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$29.5M
Managementcol C$2.4M
Fundraisingcol D$1.1M
Owns and owesPt X
$289.4M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.6M
Total assetsLn 16$291.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
27
listed · VII A
PaidVII A7
Voting boardVI 1a19
IndependentVI 1b19
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$15.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$381K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$3.2M
Fundraising eventsLn 1c$230K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$46K
Investment incomeLn 3$5.5M
Gains on assetsLn 7$3.1M
Total revenueLn 12$21.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$403K
SavingsLn 2$9.2M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$9.6M
Accounts receivableLn 4$8K
Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesLn 9$77K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$17K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$278.7M
Other assetsLn 15$2.9M
Total assetsLn 16$291.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$289.4M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 682
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3More from this return
Abroad and in kindSch F, M
Noncash gifts receivedSch M Pt I$3.2M
Investment feesPt IX, Sch D
Investment fees, as reportedPt IX 11f$646K
Share of the $280.0M endowmentSch D 1g0.23%
Typical, median of 1,806 orgs0.44%
EndowmentSch D · Pt V
LineFY25FY24FY23FY22FY21
End of yearLn 1g$280.0M$270.6M$260.3M$253.5M$259.3M
Given inLn 1b$14.1M$12.8M$16.4M$40.3M$26.8M
SpentLn 1d–1f$30.9M$29.9M$28.9M$27.3M$33.1M
4Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$9.2M$9.6M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$271.5M$278.7M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$18K$17K
Total assetsLn 16$282.0M$291.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.6M$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$279.4M$289.4M
5Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$25.9M$25.9M
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$1.0M$1.0M
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$647K$41K$323K$282K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$2.6M$1.6M$683K$375K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$122K$73K$32K$17K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$208K$142K$39K$27K
Payroll taxesLn 10$232K$117K$70K$45K
Accounting feesLn 11c$62K$62K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$17K$17K
Investment management feesLn 11f$646K$646K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$724K$346K$243K$134K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$20K$10K$5K$5K
Office expensesLn 13$95K$24K$37K$34K
Information technologyLn 14$195K$99K$59K$38K
OccupancyLn 16$278K$129K$99K$50K
TravelLn 17$1K$709$422$274
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$70K$35K$21K$14K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$12K$6K$4K$2K
InsuranceLn 23$28K$9K$16K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$109K$45K$3K$61K
Total functional expensesLn 25$33.0M$29.5M$2.4M$1.1M

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest ViewingFiled with the IRS Mar 30, 2026 $21.3M$33.0M−$11.7M$289.4M 990 PDF
FY2024Filed with the IRS Apr 28, 2025 $20.3M$31.2M−$10.9M$279.4M 990 PDF
FY2023Filed with the IRS Apr 29, 2024 $21.9M$30.4M−$8.5M$265.4M 990 PDF
FY2022Filed with the IRS Dec 22, 2022 $46.8M$29.1M$17.6M$256.6M 990 PDF
FY2021Filed with the IRS Nov 15, 2021 $42.5M$34.7M$7.8M$262.3M 990 PDF

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons I · Grants A · Public support M · Noncash J · Pay O · Explanations
See the full FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $21,278,159 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $14,531,349$15,770,014
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,911$46,320
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $5,757,204$5,464,664
I-11 Other revenuePrior year −$28,622−$2,839
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $20,262,842$21,278,159
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $24,766,297$26,877,828
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $4,080,726$3,825,284
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $2,356,683$2,256,536
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $31,203,706$32,959,648
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$10,940,864−$11,681,489
Part VI · Governance 19 of 19 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body19
VI-1b Independent voting members19
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $21,278,159 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1c Fundraising events$230,309
VIII-1e Government grants$381,340
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$15,158,365
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$3,169,142
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$15,770,014
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $46,320$46,320
VIII-3 Investment incomeUnrelated business $409,280 · Excluded from tax $2,001,162$2,410,442
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsUnrelated business $10,237 · Excluded from tax $3,043,985$3,054,222
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising eventsExcluded from tax −$5,702−$5,702
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $2,863$2,863
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $46,320 · Unrelated business $419,517 · Excluded from tax $5,042,308$21,278,159
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $32,959,648 across 20 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $25,877,060$25,877,060
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $1,000,768$1,000,768
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $41,413 · Management $323,430 · Fundraising $282,133$646,976
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,557,962 · Management $683,434 · Fundraising $375,090$2,616,486
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $73,394 · Management $31,544 · Fundraising $17,219$122,157
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $141,514 · Management $39,284 · Fundraising $27,040$207,838
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $117,046 · Management $69,526 · Fundraising $45,255$231,827
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $61,523$61,523
IX-11d Lobbying feesManagement $16,744$16,744
IX-11f Investment management feesManagement $646,432$646,432
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $346,424 · Management $243,369 · Fundraising $133,941$723,734
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $9,728 · Management $5,298 · Fundraising $4,582$19,608
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $24,178 · Management $37,198 · Fundraising $33,695$95,071
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $98,628 · Management $58,586 · Fundraising $38,134$195,348
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $129,131 · Management $99,170 · Fundraising $49,927$278,228
IX-17 TravelPrograms $709 · Management $422 · Fundraising $274$1,405
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $35,105 · Management $20,853 · Fundraising $13,573$69,531
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $6,148 · Management $3,652 · Fundraising $2,377$12,177
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $9,013 · Management $15,580 · Fundraising $3,485$28,078
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $45,303 · Management $2,586 · Fundraising $60,768$108,657
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $29,513,524 · Management $2,358,631 · Fundraising $1,087,493$32,959,648
Part X · Balance sheet $291,351,607 assets, 18 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $115,519$403,034
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $9,132,970$9,243,861
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $4,860$8,410
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $180,952$77,393
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $17,707$16,551
X-11 Publicly traded securitiesStart of year $82,628,686$85,414,972
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $188,836,530$192,275,034
X-13 Program-related investmentsStart of year $0$1,012,500
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $1,103,398$2,899,852
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $282,030,622$291,351,607
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $530,885$717,014
X-18 Grants payableStart of year $797,522$131,943
X-25 Other liabilitiesStart of year $1,293,230$1,053,327
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,621,637$1,902,284
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $6,678,186$7,464,692
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $272,730,799$281,984,631
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $279,408,985$289,449,323
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $282,030,622$291,351,607
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $289,449,323 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$21,278,159
XI-2 Total expenses$32,959,648
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$11,681,489
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$279,408,985
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$21,723,613
XI-9 Other changes in net assets−$1,786
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$289,449,323

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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